What I Love About NDA!

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Reese Van Pay, Staff Writer, Advanced Journalism

Notre Dame Academy is the perfect school for me! Going to NDA has had a tremendous impact on me and given me numerous memorable experiences. There are many great things about going to NDA, from the classes, the amazing teachers and the extracurricular activities offered.

NDA is a school that allows me to be challenged. It allows for students to take responsibility for their workload and learn organizational skills. The switch from middle school to high school scared me at first because I wasn’t used to such a heavy workload. Now I can see that I benefited a lot from it. I learned how to manage my time and get through tough weeks. Of course every student has their ups and downs and it can feel overwhelming, but NDA has given me the skills to bounce back and work harder.

Another great quality about NDA is the teachers. All of my teachers have made me feel welcome to ask questions and to go to them for help. They are always understanding and willing to take time out of their day to offer assistance. They certainly will push you to work your hardest, but they will never judge you for having questions.

A great part about NDA is the extracurricular activities and electives they offer. NDA has a multitude of clubs and classes that help students find and explore their passions. My freshman year, I took a journalism class that helped me discover my love of writing. This led me to join a club for writers at NDA, Writers Union, and make new people through it. As a freshman, making new friends was intimidating, but finding people I had something in common with made it a lot easier. 

This year, I decided to branch out and try something new. I joined NDA’s tech crew. I have been able to learn a lot about how the NDA Morning Show, school dances and musicals function on the technical side of things. Not only have I learned a lot, but I was able to be around people who enjoyed learning and participating in these things like me–and make new friends.

NDA is a school that has allowed me to be challenged and to branch out of my comfort zone, but it has also given me a sense of community. I have been able to be a part of so many things that have changed my life, and I couldn’t trade that for anything.